History of Women in the Wei Dynasty

Chapter 269 Zhao Zhi angers Li Biao

An hour passed in agony, with no new lessons taught in any of the schools, leaving the students to review on their own.

Ms. Cai, the teacher from the second dormitory of Xuanhu, once again went outside and looked towards the book-drying area. Because of the distance, only faint sounds could be heard.

Ms. Cai now regrets something: she had heard others talking about the Qixing Academy having a major exam every three days and a minor exam every day, but because she underestimated Wei Yao's age, she didn't pay attention and didn't inquire about the difficulty of the exam questions Wei Yao would set.

It wasn't until yesterday, when Wei Yaochao was promoted to the fourth rank of Zhongcairen, that she realized this young lady was no ordinary person. It reminded her of the female official Feng Yingnan, who was only fifteen years old when she was appointed as a third-rank female minister.

Will Wei Yao be the next Feng Yingnan? Or will her career as an official in the Ministry of Personnel be even smoother than Feng Yingnan's?

While Ms. Cai was lost in thought, Ms. Zhen from the neighboring Nanyang dormitory walked over.

As Zhen Nushi pondered the fact that Xu Shushi would report this month's exam results to the Imperial Academy, she grew increasingly uneasy. She felt extremely disgusted with Wei Yao, who had just been appointed as a junior scholar and had already conducted the monthly assessment ahead of schedule. So she said sarcastically, "Miss Wei, you've achieved success at a young age and changed the rules for monthly assessments as soon as you took office, while the other junior scholars have worked hard for many years and are still just guarding the library. Ha, I wonder if Qixing Academy is like us, only finding out this morning that there's a monthly exam today?"

Seeing that Ms. Cai remained silent, she continued, "I recall something I overheard a Palace Instructor mention. He said the reason the court recruited lecturers for the palace schools was because the old capital was vigorously promoting the new educational regulations, with a variety of examination methods. After last year's grand examination, the governor of Hengzhou sent several excellent exam papers to the Imperial Academy by express courier, winning praise from the scholars there. Other prefectures and counties followed suit and made recommendations. These recommended scholars are not as talented as the local renowned scholars, and they are too young. What can they do in Luoyang?"

When she mentioned the phrase "a variety of tricks," her tone became more sarcastic, and then she asked and answered herself, "They can only go to the palace to learn how to replace us."

Ms. Cai said, “As a fourth-rank female official, Lady Wei is not exempt from the position of lecturer. Xu Shushi has also assigned her the task of monthly assessment. All of this shows that... In the future, our assessment of diligent teaching will not only be compared with that of female teachers, but also with lecturers of recitation and constant recitation.”

“Let’s compare.” Teacher Zhen said confidently, “I have been teaching poetry for many years. I dare not say that I am better than all the lecturers, but I am definitely not inferior to them! Especially Wei Yao, even if she has a talent for poetry, does teaching experience also have talent? Don’t be intimidated by the trick of ‘testing everything’. We teach everything normally, so why are we afraid of testing everything?”

Ms. Cai nodded, about to agree, when she noticed some commotion at the book-drying area.

The first round of exams is over!
Ms. Tian, ​​her face dark and gloomy, walked quickly and told Zhen and Cai, who were standing there, "Your two dormitories are merging for the joint exam. Quickly tell the students to move their desks over there."

Teacher Zhen inquired about the situation: "You don't look well. Was the question difficult, or were the students nervous? Did they do poorly on the exam?"

Ms. Tian was in a terrible mood and didn't want to say a single unnecessary word. She thought to herself, "I'll see how you all look later!"
At this moment, in front of the Changhe Palace gate.

After her rest period ended, Zhao Zhi found the carriage convoy of Prince Rencheng. Without stopping or speaking, she walked around the carriage to inspect it, checking the horses and the fodder they carried, and then checking the guards on duty and whether there were any hidden weapons in violation of regulations.

As Chief Secretary Li Xuanmao looked at it, he recalled a conversation with his colleagues where someone said that for a general to achieve fame and success, he needed not only bravery but also luck. Judging from Zhao Zhi's actions, in addition to the above two points, he also needed to be cautious day after day.

Having no way to obtain an official position, Li Biao followed the carriage marker. He thought he had been humble enough and first bowed to Li Xuanmao. However, his arrogance and hostility were deeply ingrained and could not be hidden even with a low voice and a bow. "Greetings, Chief Secretary Li."

Li Xuanmao didn't think there was anything wrong with accepting this greeting first. Although they shared the same surname, he was from the Zhao County Li clan! "Young Master Li."

Li Biao handed over the invitation to pay his respects and stated his purpose directly: "I have important business to discuss with the Minister, and I would like to ask Chief Secretary Li to convey my message."

"Alright." Li Xuanmao accepted it and handed it to Zhao Zhi, then casually remarked, "What a coincidence! I've heard that your daughter and Guard Zhao's daughter are equally renowned for their poetry. I wonder if the two ladies have ever met and compared their talents? Their elders have met first today, hehe."

Li Biao glanced at Zhao Zhi and felt he had already given the woman face. Even if he was down on his luck, he wouldn't bow to a guard.

Zhao Zhi didn't bother to give the other party any face. Her next action was even more humiliating than slapping Li Biao across the face.

She placed the invitation at the junction of the carriages and sat down on it, using it as a dust-proof object. Li Biao laughed angrily, "There's no need for the Chief Secretary to convey my meaning. I'll wait here for the Minister to finish court so I can find out whether it's because the Minister is too busy with official duties and neglects to discipline his subordinates, or whether it's Chief Secretary Li's personal intention to humiliate me and deliberately condone the guards' arrogance!"

Li Xuanmao never expected that his extra words would cause things to turn out this way! He wanted to persuade Zhao Zhi to admit her mistake, but looking at Zhao Zhi's aggressive gaze, he guessed... never mind, she definitely wouldn't listen to his advice.

He smiled wryly and explained to Li Biao, "Guard Zhao is illiterate and doesn't know it's a letter of homage."

"Rip, rip!" Zhao Zhi tore the invitation to shreds.

"Hahaha—" Li Xuanmao's awkward fake laughter faded away. "Look, Mr. Li, I really didn't lie, did I?"

Li Biao lowered his eyes and ignored him.

A rider approached slowly; it was Yuan Yu, the Prince of Guangling, who was late for court. He dismounted, sneezed, and scolded, "The streets are covered in dust; why isn't water being sprinkled?"

Those who heard this thought to themselves: What time is it? The water that was sprinkled has long since dried up.

He then pointed at Zhao Zhi from a distance: "And there are those who litter!"

Zhao Zhi pushed off with her feet, stomping the shredded paper into the soil.

Li Biao only gave a cold laugh.

Yuan Yu finally stopped picking fights with those around him and reluctantly went to the palace to report on matters.

About an hour later, he came out with Prince Rencheng, Yuan Cheng.

Li Xuanmao quickly stepped forward and whispered to Zhao Zhi about the conflict between her and Li Biao.

Yuan Yu immediately added fuel to the fire: "Uncle, I warned you long ago that this woman is unruly and arrogant. If you keep her around, it will only cause you trouble."

Yuan Cheng: "And then?"

Yuan Yu patted his chest: "Let her protect me, I'm not afraid of trouble! Hey, I'm trouble myself."

“You still know that?” Yuan Cheng had no time to joke around with the other party. After Li Biao bowed, he asked, “Since Young Master Li has something important to discuss with me, please get in the carriage and we can talk as we go.”

Li Biao, being tactful, did not mention the fault of the invitation. He respectfully helped Yuan Cheng into the car first, and then followed.

Yuan Yu then added fuel to the fire for Zhao Zhi: "Be careful, Li Biao is a vindictive man. If he were to work in the Prince of Rencheng's mansion, he could frame you for ten crimes in half a day! Come work in my mansion, I trust you completely, and I can help you deal with him. Tearing him apart will be as easy as tearing paper."

The two people in the carriage could hear this attempt to poach their partner.

Yuan Cheng poked his head out and scolded Li Xuanmao, "Aren't you going to set off yet?"

He then scolded Yuan Yu: "Didn't you see my car is about to move? Get away! If you stretch out your leg, you'll get crushed; if you stretch out your mouth, you'll get crushed!"